Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of the lives of children and teenagers today. Over-reliance on smartphones for entertainment and education may lead to generational health problems. Brazilian researchers have found that using smartphones for more than three hours a day can lead to various health problems in children. The study, supported by FAPESP, is published in the scientific journal Healthcare.
The study mainly focused on the external pain between the shoulder blades known as thoracic spine pain (TSP). This pain is felt from the back of the neck to the beginning of the spine. The researchers conducted the study on students aged 14 to 18 in the city of Bauru, Sao Paulo.
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During the period from March to June 2017, 1,628 people were asked questions in this regard. Later in 2018, continuous data collection was also done. According to the study, TSP increased over a single year and the problem was more common in girls than boys. In general, TSP occurs in between 15 percent and 35 percent of adults. In children and adolescents, it is between 13 percent and 35 percent. The advent of covid and the subsequent maximum use of smart phones and computers have exacerbated this health problem. Even the World Health Organization had warned about this.
Such information can be incorporated into health education programs for school students, teachers, staff and parents. This study shows how much students’ study methods and smartphone use affect their health. Alberto De Vita, who led the study, said that it will help children to understand the possibilities and limitations of our bodies.
Increasing TSP rates in children are considered a matter of serious concern. As the back pain increases, children become more lazy and fall behind in their studies. Apart from this there are psychological and social problems. This study from Brazil warns that children looking at smartphones and computers for more than three hours a day can have long-term health problems.